who had a shop built?
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (2)
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 302
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From: Arlington, TX/ Ft. lewis, WA
who had a shop built? so i am 19 and my g-pa live in a country-ish area and said that i could use some of his land to build a shop if i wanted. well i was wondering who has actually had a shop built. how long did it take. do you have any plumbing? my plans were to build a living area above my "clean room" and just live their. has anyone done this before?
thanks Dustin
thanks Dustin
6 & 8 Second Club
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,284
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From: Illinois, RT 66 dragway area
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I have a Morton. FBI also makes shops. You can also make or get plans & do it yourself, stick built.
I have water, shower, old washer/dryer. Bedroom upstairs for when leaving early, or getting back late.
It's awesome, pull truck & trailer in, set alarm, go home. 2 of my neighbors live in theirs. One rents out the shop part.
One uses all himself(one of us, dragracer). If it's legal, great idea for a young guy. I would love to do it myself.
Open the door, there's all my stuff. Wife likes a big house. I lose.
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I have a Morton. FBI also makes shops. You can also make or get plans & do it yourself, stick built.
I have water, shower, old washer/dryer. Bedroom upstairs for when leaving early, or getting back late.
It's awesome, pull truck & trailer in, set alarm, go home. 2 of my neighbors live in theirs. One rents out the shop part.
One uses all himself(one of us, dragracer). If it's legal, great idea for a young guy. I would love to do it myself.
Open the door, there's all my stuff. Wife likes a big house. I lose.
.
i had one built it is cement block building. i had a contractor do the masonry and roof. i did the plumbing and had a buddy of mine help me do the electrical.
my advice put multiple big doors in front of building. one thing that i would change on mine if i could
my advice put multiple big doors in front of building. one thing that i would change on mine if i could
Teching In
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 48
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From: Nashville, TN
I am planning on starting a shop soon. I'm looking for a place that has something I could use/turn into a living quarters and am planning on living in the place. But if I can't find anything than I will probably build something. So TTT for more info. 
I've built several I am a carpenter though. I personal would like to buy some land myself and build a shop with a living area. you have to remember though your adding considerable cost with adding a living area. you'll need plumbing bath kitchen and it will have to past tougher inspection codes. also if it's not your land I would not suggest spending that much money. while you think you may end up with it in the long run being that it's your grandfather's family members have a way a messing thinks up when it to comes money. build just a nice garage unless you can buy the land.
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (2)
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 302
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From: Arlington, TX/ Ft. lewis, WA
well the plan right now is to buy the acre from him where the shop will be and he and i are working out a contract where i make payment for the rest of the land each month and if something does happen to him, i own the land and previous will's are invalid.
I just built(still need electrical) a 25'Wx35'Lx14'H shop. It was a metal building kit type shop, I put a roll up door in the front and one in the back. Damn concrete is expensive!!! I wanted to build a relax & kick back type room but the building inspectors wouldn't go for it.
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I'd imagine it would have something to do with either fire prevention or ventilation. Of course, once the shop is built, what's to stop you from framing a room... 
My next door neighbor spent $25k-$30k on his turnkey 24x30 shop with slab and driveway extension. He hired out the build though. Probably would have saved about $10k if he did it himself. No plumbing, only single phase wiring (120V... I told him he should do 2 phase / 230V, but oh well, his choice ).
I've seen several people build a large shop with living quarters on some land, and then a few years later (when funds allow, and/or they're sure they'll "be there a while") they'll build their house near the shop. It's a very nice arrangement. End up with a nice house, and a "guest house" out back in the shop.
And I absolutely agree about family mucking up the works. Seriously, get things in writing and have a lawyer dot the i's and cross the t's. It will cost you some money, but in the long run it's minimal insurance to make sure the extended family doesn't take away your shop/home. Families will get weird when it comes to inheriting money.
My next door neighbor spent $25k-$30k on his turnkey 24x30 shop with slab and driveway extension. He hired out the build though. Probably would have saved about $10k if he did it himself. No plumbing, only single phase wiring (120V... I told him he should do 2 phase / 230V, but oh well, his choice
).I've seen several people build a large shop with living quarters on some land, and then a few years later (when funds allow, and/or they're sure they'll "be there a while") they'll build their house near the shop. It's a very nice arrangement. End up with a nice house, and a "guest house" out back in the shop.
And I absolutely agree about family mucking up the works. Seriously, get things in writing and have a lawyer dot the i's and cross the t's. It will cost you some money, but in the long run it's minimal insurance to make sure the extended family doesn't take away your shop/home. Families will get weird when it comes to inheriting money.
Last edited by Camaroholic; Feb 23, 2008 at 08:36 AM.
I am a commercial contractor, and can tell you to not mix the living occupancy with anything else. Its not so bad when you get out in a county, which sounds like you might be, but if you are under Arlington jurisdiction, dont dare put the living space on your building permit. You need to permit the thing as a shop with single restroom and build the living space after you get your CO. If you have any specific questions, shoot me a pm. You will need to be creative as to how you do your plumbing and electrical.
6 & 8 Second Club
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,284
Likes: 0
From: Illinois, RT 66 dragway area
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A thought I did. Plan the shop bathroom under the apartment bathroom. Then you leave the pipes in the wall. Like X said, do not build an apartment until after everyone is long gone from snooping around.
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A thought I did. Plan the shop bathroom under the apartment bathroom. Then you leave the pipes in the wall. Like X said, do not build an apartment until after everyone is long gone from snooping around.
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